Thai police announces first off-limits areas

BANGKOK, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Thai police chief Adul Saengseingkaew on Friday announced the first off-limits areas under the state of emergency decree, including a number of government offices, roads and bridge.

The first notice Adul has issued in his capacity as deputy director of the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order bans entry to 13 premises, including the Government House, parliament and government complex without permission.

The ban also applies to 25 roads and a bridge, according to the notice.

The Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order is in charge of enforcing the emergency decree, which took effect in the capital and surrounding areas on Wednesday for 60 days.

The Constitutional Court is set to give a ruling on Friday over which one has the authority to postpone the Feb. 2 election, the Election Commission (EC) or the caretaker government.

Anti-government protesters, who persisted with their Shutdown Bangkok movenment despite the state of emergency, have vowed to disrupt the voting either by blocking roads leading to polling stations or besieging the stations.

Protesters have already laid siege to election offices in 20 provinces, mostly in the south, according to secretary-general of the EC Puchong Nutrawong.